Device for sorting and transporting particulate material



I United States Patent 11113,547,263

[72] Inventor Wayne P. Green [56] References Cited Richardson, Tex.UNITED STATES PATENTS P 968 3,422,954 1/1969 Crawford 209 102 [221 FM1,173,366 2/l9l6 Mackrill.... 209/107x [45] Patented Dec. 15, I970 Leo C0 M C l 2,106,341 l/l938 Cutler 209/102 [731 Ass'gm i' 3,348,680 l0/l967Mathews m1... 209/102 a corporation of Texas Primary Examiner-Allen N.Knowles At!orneyHoward E. Moore I ABSTRACT: An automatic sizing devicefor solids comprising [54] TRANSPORHNG sets of moving parallel beltswherein belts of the first set are l 6D separated a predetermineddistance throughout their length, 13 G rawmg allowing articles beingsized of a smaller dimension than the [52] U.S.Cl 209/102 distancebetween the belts to pass between the belts onto a [5]] Int. Cl B07b13/04 second set of parallel belts spaced apart a distance less than[50] Field of Search 209/102, that of the first set of parallel belts.Other sets of belts may be deposited in any desirable location.

PATENTEUUECISISTG 3547253 SHEET 1 OF 4 Ms, M

PATENTED um 5 19m SHEET 2 BF 4 INVENTOR.

PATENTEU mm 5 ram SHEET 3 BF 4 DEVICE FOR SOR'IING AND TRANSPORTINGPARTICULATE MATERIAL BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Sizing machinesheretofore developed have consisted of vibrating screens, divergingbelts and diverging bar construction. These sizing machines have had thedisadvantage of scuffing the articles being sorted and are large,cumbersome machines which required considerable time for changing sizesof the assortment.

-One class of sizing machines heretofore used employed vibrators havingsuperposed grids for the openings, utilizing one grid for each size.Thesegrids have approximately 75 per cent open area with the-remaining25 per cent being consumed by wire strands. Objects falling through thegrids are often damaged due to wedg ing, scuffing, and impacting withthe vibrator itself. Each grid has to bechanged to vary the size of theassortment. v Another class of sizers heretofore used employed vibratoryconveyors to slide objects being assorted across a wedge-- shapedopening. A heavy frame is required to support the vibrating bed and allof the objects being assorted must pass over the narrow portion of thewedge-shaped opening, reducing the capacity of the machine because thelargest objects are the last to fall through the opening.

Another class of sizing machines uses diverging rollers and has the samedisadvantages as the device using wedged-shaped openings. 7

A still further sizing device uses diverging belts and the primarydisadvantage'of this device is that the larger objects fall through theopening between the belts last and therefore clog the device reducingthe capacity thereof.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION.

The present invention uses sets of parallel belts stacked one above theother with the opening between the sets of belts being of progressivelyless width from the topmost down with the opening between the top beltsbeing the largest width to move the largest objects first, therebyeliminating the most serious disadvantages of all sizing devicesheretofore used.

A primary object of the present invention is to provide a sizing devicewith a very large capacity which will not scuff or otherwise damage thearticles being assorted.

Another object of the present invention is to remove the largestdiameter objects first. to prevent unnecessary consumption of space,thereby reducing the overall size of the sorting device fora givencapacity.

Another object of the invention is to provide a sorting device in whichthe open area afforded to the'objects being sorted is 100 per cent.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a sortingdevice in which objects are handled at higher speeds than is possiblewith existing separating and sorting devices.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a sorting devicewherein the articles assorted are not damaged by scuffing, impact orwedging.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a sizingdevice with novel adjusting means for varying the opening therein andconsequently the various sizes of the objects in each assortment. V

A still further object of the invention is to provide a sizing devicewhich requires minimum handling of the objects assorted.

Another object of the invention is to provide a sorting device of simpleeconomical construction which is easy to operate and requires minimummaintenance.

Other and further objects of the present invention will become apparentfrom the following description of a preferred embodiment taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings and claims.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS The accompanying drawings are provided so thatthe invention may be better and more fully understood, in which:

FIG. I is a cross-sectional view taken along lines H of FIG. Ill;

.FIG. II is a plan view of a sizing device embodying the presentinvention with parts broken away to more clearly show details ofconstruction; 1

FIG. III is a side elevation of the sizing device shown in F IG. I withparts broken away to more clearly illustrate details of construction;

FIG. IV is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along lines IV-IVof FIG. II with parts broken away to show details of construction of theslider bed;

FIG. V is a perspective view of a frame bed removed the frame; and 1FIG. VI is an end view showing a suitable drive means.

.Numeral references are employed to indicate the various parts shown inthe drawing and like numerals indicate like parts throughout the variousfigures of the. drawing.

from

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawings thenumeral -1 generally designates a suitable form of the presentinvention. A frame 2 with upright standards 4, longitudinal beams 6 andcross sills 8 are provided to support a plurality of sizing unitsgenerally designated by the numerals 10a, 10b and 100, as best seen inFIG. II of the drawing.

Each sizing unit has a rectangular bed plate 11 having end sills 12joined by longitudinal members Each end sill 12 has an upstanding lug 16mounted thereonto which adjusting means may be secured as hereinafterexplained. As best seen in FIG. ll of the drawing, the rectangular bedplate 11 of each sizing unit is supported by the frame 2 and suitablemeans such as bolts 18 are provided for detachably securing the bedplate to frame 2.

A pair of box frame beds 20a and 2% are mounted on each rectangular bedplate for supporting gauging belts 22 in a desired relationship one tothe other.

Each box frame bed 20a and 20b has inner and outer sills 24 and 26respectively extending longitudinally of the bed connected by crossmembers 28 and-inclined stanchions 30 and 32, forming a box frame. Thebox frame is supported by spacer members 34 and 36 which extend upwardlyfrom carriage members 38 positioned'in spaced apartrelation at oppositeends of the box frame.

Each sizing unit 10 has a first box frame bed 20a bolted or otherwiserigidly-secured to end sills 1 2of the bed plate. The carriage 38 of thesecond bed 20b is adjustably fixed to the end sills 12 to allowadjustment of the distance. between the belts 22 while. guides 39maintain proper alignment. A plate 40 is welded or otherwise securelyfixed to a portion of carriage 38 and one end of a micrometer adjustingscrew 42 is attached thereto. The screw 42 passes through a threadedportion of lug 16 extending upwardly from end sills 12. The handle 44 isprovided at one end of screw'42 for turning the same. When handle 44 isturned one belt 22 will be moved with relation to the other belt 22 andthe distance between the belts may be determined by reading from-theindicator 45.

As best seen in FIG. II, a bearing 46 is bolted or otherwise securelyattached adjacent one end of outer sills 26 of each bed 20 forming ajournal for power-driven shaft 48.

Adjustable bearings 50 are mounted in spaced apart relation frombearings 46 forming a journal for idler shaft 52. The bearing 50 ismounted to a movable carriage 54 which has outwardly extending channelmembers 56 thereon which ride upon guide members 58 extending inwardlyfrom inner sill 24 and outer sill 26. Adjustment screw 60 extendsbetween carriage member 54 and cross bar 62, which extends between innersill 24 and outer sill 26, and has a nut 64 welded or otherwise securelyattached thereto for engaging the adjust ment screw 60. A jam nut 66 isprovided to prevent loosening of the adjustment screw. A square portion68 is provided on the outer end of adjustment screw 60 to facilitateturning thereof with a wrench. Rotation of screw 60 will cause bearing50 to move longitudinally of bed frames 20a or 20b.

Each shaft 48 and 52 journaled in bearings 46 and 50 respectively have apair of pulleys 70 and 72 mounted thereon in close end to end relationwith a space 73 therebetween for receiving bead 74 protruding from acentral portion of belt 22 extending longitudinally therealong. I

- The tension of the belt 22 may be adjusted using adjustment screws 60.

As best seen in FIGS. IV and V a slider bed 76 is positioned f' 'f'behind each belt 22 forming a rigid backing therefor. The slider bed 76consists of spaced apart parallel plates 76a and 76b with an elongatedslot 78 therebetween for receiving bead 74'on'belts 22. Each parallelplate has a folded flange'portion .5 80 shaped to com'plementarilyreceive the bead 74. Each plate also has a folded flange portion 82 at'each end thereof to prevent undue wear upon the belts 22'? Spacers 84mounted on the face of inner sill 24 hold slider beds 76 in closerelation with belt 22. J v As is apparent from FIG. I, the purpose ofslider bed 76 is to 5; form a rigid backing for belts 22' and by reasonof rib 74 running in slot 78 maintainingthe' lower edges of belts 22 gstraight and parallel one to the other and preventing the belts fromslipping off the pulleys therefor.

. As is best seen in FIG. ll, belts 22 of each sizing unit a, Y 1210band 100 are disposed at a slight incline forming a through i /shapedconveyor with a uniformly spaced opening 86 the width of which may beincreased or decreased by turning handle 44 of the adjustment screw 42.

Sizingunits 10a, 10b and 10c are stacked one above the other withopening 86a being wider'than opening 86b which in turn is wider thanopening 86c.

The objects 115 to be sized are placed into sizing ,unit 100 f which hasthe widest opening 860 of the sizing units. The belts on the sizingunits are rotated to agitate .and convey the objects. Objects of adiameter larger'than opening 86a will be retained upon the belts 22 ofsizing unit 10a while objects of lesser diameter will fall through theopening to the belts of sizing unit 10b. Objects with a diameter largerthan 86b will be retained 'upon the belts of sizing unit 10b while itemsof smaller diameter will fall through tosizing'unit 100. The sizedobjects are moved by the rotating belts to the ends and 1 deposited on aconveyor or container 88. Suitable means such ,-as hopper 87 may beprovided for loading the belts.

' Each sizing device 10a, 10b and 10c may be of identical ,constructionor they may be constructed with the belts of siz- 5 Zing unit 10a widerthan the belts of sizing unit of 10b depend- ?ing upon the nature of thesizing operation. For uniformly "j graded objects which are to beassorted into three sizes, apf proximately one third of the objects willb'eretained upon the *fflbelts of each sizing device. It might in thisinstance be desira- Y ble to make the belts on unit 100 wider than thebelts on unit 210k. However, for sizing objects which are not uniformly-fgraded, it is conceivable that substantially all of the objects'rnight fall through opening 86a'onto sizing device 10b requiringthecapacity of sizing device 10b to be substantially the same as that ofsizing device 10a.

i. While it is contemplated that the belts of each sizing unit PwiIl-runat the same speed, it may be de'sirable for onebelt of a.-=g'iven'sizing unit to travel at a speed greater than the other belt,such as in grading elongated or elliptically shaped objects such ascucumbers. With one belt traveling faster than the w other, elongatedobjects lying crosswise in the trough will be turned so as to aligntheir longest axesparallel to the length of r "the trough. I 1

Any suitable drive means may be utilized to rotate the belts 2. All'ofthe belts may run in thesanie direction or the belts of alternate sizingdevices may run in opposite directions fivhichever is more expedient ina given' sit'uation. Conveyors v;.*88may be provided to remove theassorted articles from the "dsofthebelts22.-

Each sizing unit may be powered separately or a single power unit may beprovided for driving the entire sizing device. A suitable drive means isshown 'i'ri 'FlG; ill in which an" ey 92 which carries belts 94, 96 and98 to drive pulleys 100, 102 and 104 mounted upon the shaft of gearreducersl06, 108 and 110 respectively. Flexible couplings 112 may beused for transmission of power from the reducers 106, 108 and 110 to thepower driven shaft 48 and consequently the pulleys70 and 72 providing ameans for rotating the belts 22.

lt should be noted that the purpose of bead 74 upon the inner face ofbelts 22 is to maintain alignment of the belt 22 with respect to pulleys70 and 72. The bead is carried in grooves 73 between pulleys 70 and 72and in slot 78 in the slider bed 76, thereby eliminating the possibilityof the belt 22 creeping up the pulleys 70 and 72 causing the opening 86between thelbeltsto vary. 1

1. In a device for sizing solids, a general frame; a plurality ofsizingunits stacked vertically on said frame, each sizing unit includinga bed plate detachably secured to the general frame; first and secondframe beds; a carriage at each end of each frame bed; means for fixedlysecuring the carriage of the first frame bed to the bed plate; means foradjustably attaching the carriage of the second frame bed to the bedplate; adjustment means for moving the second frame bed relative to thefirst frame bed; a power shaft and an idler shaft journaled adjacentopposite ends of each frame bed; pulley means mounted on each powershaft and idler shaft; endless belts mounted on said pulley means drivenby said power shaft; the belt carried by the first frame bed havingedges disposed in parallel relationship to the belt carried on thesecond frame bed, forming a trough-shaped container having anelongatedopening in the bottom thereof with parallel edges anddownwardly converging sides; and power means connected to each powershaft for rotating the belts. i

2; The combination called for in claim 1 with the addition of a bead onthe inner side of each belt; and a guide slot in each pulley formaintaining alignment between the said belt and the said pulleys.

3. The combination called for in claim 2, including a slider bed securedto the frame bed behind the gauging belts and a longitudinal guidegroove disposed in the slider bed for receiving the head on the gaugingbelt for maintaining the gauging belts in parallel relationjone to theother.

4. The combination called for in claim 3, with the addition of aconveyor positioned at one end of each set of parallel belts forreceiving items which are retained on said belts.

5. In a sizing device, a frame, a plurality of sizing units stackedvertically on said frame; each sizing unit including a pair of spacedapart gauging belts rotatably disposed in parallel relation on theframe; a separate frame bed for supporting each gauging belt; a carriageassociated with each frame bed, the carriage of one frame bed beingfixed with relation to the frame while the carriage of the other framebed of each sizing unit is laterally movable with relation to the fixedbed; means to move the movable frame bed to vary the distance betweenthe parallel gauging belts; a slider bed mounted on each frame bedbehind the gauging belt; means slidably engageable between eachsliderb'ed and belt to maintain the gauging belt of eachsizing device instraight, parallel relation one to the;

other; and power meansfor rotating the gauging belts.

6. The combination called for in claim 5, wherein the means.

slideably engageabl e between the slider bed and the belt is alongitudinal guide slot in v the slider bed and rib on the beltslideable in the slot.

7. In a sizingdevice, a frame, a plurality of sizingunits riage ofonframe, bed being fixed with relation to the frame.

move the movable frame bed to vary the distance between the parallelgauging belts; a power shaft and an idler shaft journaled adjacentopposite ends of each frame bed; drive means connected to the powershaft; and means operably connected to the idler shaft for adjusting thebelt tension.

8. In a sizing device, a general frame; a plurality of sizing unitsmounted in superposed relationship on the frame, each sizing unitcomprising, a pair of side-by-side belts, said belts being downwardlyconverging toward each other with the lower edges thereof disposed inparallel relationship, the lower stacked vertically on said frame; eachsizing unit including a pair of spaced apart gauging belts forming atrough-shaped container having an elongated opening in the bottomthereof,

edges of the pairs of belts in the respective sizing units beingprogressively spaced apart less from the topmost down; roller meansmounted at each end of the frame about which the belts rotate; powermeans for rotating the roller means; spaced apart guide plates undereach belt, providing 'a continuous groove therebetween; a rib on theinnerside of each belt movable in said groove; and a circumferentialgroove in each roller means to receive the rib to maintain the loweredges of the belts in parallel alignment. r

9. In a device for sorting and transporting particulate material, aframe; gauging belts rotatably mounted in spaced apart parallel relationon the frame; said belts being arranged to form a trough-shapedcontainer with downwardly converging sides and having an elongatedopening in the bottom thereof with parallel edges; guide means on theframe extending longitudinally thereof; means on the gauging beltsslidably engageable with the guide means on the frame to maintain eachgauging belt in straight, parallel relation to the other gauging belt;and power means for rotating the gauging belts.

10. The combination called for in claim9, wherein the guide means ontheframe is a longitudinal slot and the guide means on the belt is a ribconstructed and arranged to be slidably disposed in the longitudinalslot.

ll. In a sizing device, a frame, a plurality of sizing units said beltsbeing rotatably disposed on the frame; members extending along a portionof the length of the gauging belts; means slidably engageable betweenthe members 'and the gauging belts to maintain the gauging belts instraight,-parallel relation one to the other; and power means forrotating the gauging belts, said sizing units being arranged toprogressively remove items from an assortment of sizes from large tosmall 'such that items of lesser diameter than the width of the openingin an upper trough fall into a lower trough-shaped container.

12. The combination called for in claim ll, with the addition of aseparate frame bed for supporting each gauging belt; a carriageassociated with each frame bed, the carriage of one frame bed beingfixed with relation to the frame while the carriage of the other framebed of each sizing unit is laterally movable with relation to the fixedbed; and means to move the movable frame bed to vary the distancebetween the parallel gauging belts.

13. In a sizing device, a frame, a plurality of sizing units stackedvertically on said frame; each sizing unit including a pair of spacedapart gauging belts forming a trough-shaped container having anelongated opening in the bottom thereof, said belts being rotatablydisposed on the frame; a power shaft and idler shaft journaled adjacentoppositeends of each sizing unit; drive means; means for connecting the'drive means in driving relation to the power shaft and belts; and meansbetween the belts and the frame of each sizing unit for maintainingdesired spacing between the belts, said sizing units being arranged toprogressively remove items from an assortment of sizes from large tosmall such that items of lesser diameter than the width of the openingin an upper trough fall into a lower trough-shaped container.

